The Trial Season 2 Review: In 2023, Kajol made her OTT debut as ‘the good wife’, Noyonika Sengupta, a homemaker who is forced to return to work as a lawyer after her husband’s scandal lands him in jail.
In season 1 of The Trial, Noyonika was finding her footing, but in season 2, she firmly holds her ground. She has now transformed into a more assertive lawyer, handling high-profile cases. But she is yet to outrun the past that haunts her.
The Trial Season 2: Plot
The show picks up right after season 1 ends, and Noyonika’s marriage has almost crumbled. Professionally, she is a formidable lawyer and somewhat of an expert in handling complex cases. But when a massage therapist accuses a powerful societal figure of sexual assault and no one wants to take up her case, Noyonika must figure out how to defend her while also excavating the real truth of the matter. As Noyonika takes up more complex cases, she also puts her job at jeopardy.
In her personal life, she also considers a divorce from her husband, Rajiv (Jisshu Sengupta), who is attempting a political comeback after the scandal of season 1. When he seeks Noyonika’s help, the lines between personal and professional start to blur. Her journey shifts from hesitation to confidence as she fights to protect both her family and her law firm from collapse.
The Trial Season 2: Cast
In The Trial season 2, Kajol returns as Noyonika Sengupta. Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Kubbra Sait, and Gaurav Pandey also return to the show. The cast also includes Sonali Kulkarni as Narayani Dhole, Rajiv’s political rival. Karanvir Sharma also joins the cast this season as Param Manjal, a lawyer and Noyonika’s partner in the firm.
The Defence
Kajol proved her mettle as an actor decades ago. When she is on screen, you cannot help but watch her excel at her craft. Just like in season 1, she is the heartbeat of the new season as well. Kajol’s real-life grit and tenacity reflect in Noyonika. Kajol lights up the screen, and her eyes draw you in.
Jisshu Sengupta and Alyy Khan ably complement Kajol. Sheeba Chaddha is a chameleon: she has aced her theatre and OTT presence alike. Narayani Dhole is a riot. The show does a good job of handling this talented cast by giving everyone enough time to flesh out their character arcs. It is the characters that shoulder this show, as the plot itself is nothing out of the ordinary.
The Prosecution
Kajol’s star power looms large over this show. She is yet to develop her OTT presence, and her movie star aura overshadows Noyonika. Interestingly, while her acting itself is commendable, you can’t help but think ‘she belongs on the big screen’ while looking at her. Unlike Sheeba Chaddha, she is yet to adapt to the OTT sphere.
The cinematography of the show, for the most part, doesn’t let you establish much of a personal connection with the characters. Most scenes are shot with the actor in focus (think iPhone cinematic mode, but more professional and better quality) with their backgrounds blurred. A lot of the scenes also have a bokeh effect.
You are never truly in the world of The Trial; it’s not an immersive experience. You are very aware that you are just a spectator, and as such, the show doesn’t manage to hold much attention. You might just end up using your phone a lot, especially since the episodes are mostly 45 minutes long.
The show’s writing doesn’t do much to save it and often falters. While the show promises high drama and courtroom sensation, most cases get settled without a fiery argument. Much like the cinematography, the writing also fails to showcase anything beyond the surface.
When And Where To Watch
The Trial Season 2 streams on JioHotstar, also available via OTTplay Premium, starting September 19, 2025. It is better to watch the first season before the second.
